Apparatus and Method for Aligning Substructures

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus and a method for alignment of substructures during the construction of a structure. An embodiment of the apparatus includes an adjustable device for selective attachment to a substructure of an unfinished structure whereby the device acts as a stationary point on which to attach a string for alignment of additional sub-structures. An embodiment of the method includes use of the adjustable device in constructing a structure.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to the field of alignment devices. More particularly, this disclosure relates to apparatus for aiding in the construction of a structure by facilitating the alignment of sub-structures during construction.

BACKGROUND

Construction technology has evolved for thousands of years and has become scientifically advanced with the use of computing technology and the use of advanced materials to build new structures. However, certain aspects of constructing structures have remained relatively unchanged over the years. For example, the structural integrity of a structure depends in large part on whether various sub-structures have been attached together in a desired manner. The ability to attach sub-structures with precision requires a reliance on basic geometric principles such as the use of straight lines.

A number of devices have been used to help a person building a structure to keep a part of the structure aligned in a straight line. One example is the use of string attached at one or both ends substantially along the part of a structure to be constructed in a straight line. Such strings are often attached to sticks anchored in the ground or along the structure being built. Strings are also attached to other devices designed for fitting over specifically sized sub-structures at a corner or end of the structure being built. However, these devices for attaching string to structures lack a combination of flexibility of use on a variety of sub-structures, integrity to remain substantially in place without physically impacting the underlying structure being built, and accuracy to better ensure proper alignment of sub-structures during construction.

What is needed, therefore, is an alignment device that may be used on a variety of different sized sub-structures at various locations along a structure being built for gaining an accurate alignment of sub-structures during construction but having minimal, if any, physical impact on the underlying structure.

SUMMARY

The above and other needs are met by embodiments of an apparatus for aligning substructures to facilitate the construction of a structure. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an elongate bar including a proximal end and a distal end; a movable member including a first portion and a second portion, the movable member being movable along the bar between the proximal end and the distal end of the bar; an end member adjacent the bar, the end member including a first extension and a second extension, the first extension including a groove for attaching a string to the apparatus, the second extension including a groove for positioning a string substantially adjacent to any substructure that the apparatus may be placed on, the second extension being located substantially opposite the second portion of the movable member; and an obstruction located near the distal end of the bar for preventing the movable member from moving off of the bar.

In a preferred embodiment, the first extension of the apparatus includes a plurality of grooves for attaching a string to the apparatus. The cross-sectional structure of the bar preferably is in the form of a polygonal shape. In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus is made from metal or a metal alloy. Optionally, the movable member is angled toward the proximal end of the bar.

A related embodiment includes an apparatus for aligning substructures to facilitate the construction of a structure in which the apparatus includes an elongate bar including a proximal end and a distal end wherein the cross-sectional structure of the bar includes a polygonal shape; a movable member including a first portion and a second portion, the movable member being movable along the bar between the proximal end and the distal end of the bar wherein the movable member is movable by sliding motion along the bar; an end member adjacent the bar, the end member including a first extension and a second extension, the first extension including a groove for attaching a string to the apparatus, the second extension including a groove for positioning a string substantially adjacent to any substructure that the apparatus may be placed on, the second extension being located substantially opposite the second portion of the movable member; and an obstruction located near the distal end of the bar for preventing the movable member from moving off of the bar. Preferably, the first extension of the apparatus includes a plurality of grooves for attaching a string to the apparatus. The cross-sectional structure of the bar preferably is in the form of a polygonal shape. The apparatus is preferably made from metal or a metal alloy. Optionally, the movable member is angled toward the proximal end of the bar.

In another aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a method for aligning substructures to facilitate the construction of a structure using a alignment apparatus, the alignment apparatus including an elongate bar including a proximal end and a distal end; a movable member including a first portion and a second portion, the movable member being movable along the bar between the proximal end and the distal end of the bar; an end member adjacent the bar, the end member including a first extension and a second extension, the first extension including a groove for attaching a string to the apparatus, the second extension including a groove for positioning a string substantially adjacent to any substructure that the apparatus may be placed on, the second extension being located substantially opposite the second portion of the movable member; and an obstruction located near the distal end of the bar for preventing the movable member from moving off of the bar. The method includes the steps of (a) placing the alignment apparatus on a substructure such that the second portion of the movable member and the second extension of the end member are located on opposite sides of the substructure; (b) wrapping a string around the first extension of the end member such that the string is inserted into the groove located along the first extension; (c) wrapping the string under the bar along the groove in the second extension; and (d) pulling the remaining string from the groove in the second extension under the bar in order to set a desired alignment guideline along an unfinished structure.

In a related embodiment, step (a) further includes the step of moving the movable member closer to the proximal end of the alignment apparatus until both the second portion of the movable member and the second extension of the end member are in contact with the sub-structure.

On advantage of various embodiments of the invention is that the apparatus may be attached at various locations along a structure that is under construction. It is not necessary that the apparatus be attached on a corner of the structure.

Another advantage of various embodiments of the invention is that the apparatus may fit a broad range of structures that are sized considerably different from one another. This is made possible by moving the movable member to fit various sized substructures.

Yet another advantage of various embodiments of the invention is that the apparatus has little or no impact on a substructure it is placed on. More specifically, there is no need to insert any part of the apparatus into a substructure in order for the apparatus to hold steady during use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure for aligning substructures to facilitate the construction of a structure;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with a movable member component thereof located in a first position;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the movable member located in a second position;

FIG. 4A shows a close up view of a proximal end of the apparatus of FIG. 1 that includes a plurality of grooves along a first extension;

FIG. 4B shows a close up view of a proximal end of the apparatus of FIG. 1 that includes a single groove along a first extension;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 having a string attached to a first extension of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 shows an end view showing a distal end of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows a close up side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 attached to a substructure with a string attached to a first extension of the apparatus;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 attached to a substructure with a string attached to a first extension of the apparatus;

FIG. 10 shows a close up side view of an apparatus similar to the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the exception that the apparatus shown in FIG. 10 includes a movable member that is oriented substantially orthogonal to the bar of the apparatus;

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 attached to a brick that includes multiple apertures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus 10 for aligning sub-structures during the construction of a structure. The apparatus 10 includes an elongate bar 12 including a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16, a movable member 18 movable along the bar 12 between the proximal end 14 and the distal end 16, and an end member 20 located along the proximal end 14 of the bar 12. The apparatus 10 is preferably made of metal or a metal alloy such as aluminum, stainless steel, steel, or iron. However, the apparatus may be made from polymeric materials such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Also, the apparatus 10 may be made of wood. In some embodiments, some parts of the apparatus may be made of a first material (e.g., metal) and other parts made of a second material (e.g., wood).

The movable member 18 includes a first portion 22 movably mounted along the bar 12 and a second portion 24 extending beyond the bar 12. For example, the movable member 18 may be provided as a bar 21 including an aperture 23 through which the bar 12 extends as shown in FIG. 1. The end member 20 includes a first extension 26 and a second extension 28. The first extension 26 includes at least one groove 30 for attaching a string to the apparatus 10, and the second extension 28 includes a groove 32 for position an attached string substantially adjacent to any substructure that the apparatus 10 may be placed on. The first extension 26 preferably includes a plurality of grooves 31 as shown close up in FIG. 4A. The second extension 28 is located substantially opposite the second portion 24 such that these parts may straddle a sub-structure. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 further includes a stop or obstruction 34 located near the distal end 16 of the bar 12 for preventing the movable member 18 from moving off of the bar 12.

FIG. 2 shows a first side 36 view of the apparatus 10 with the movable member 18 in a first position 38, and FIG. 3 shows a second side 40 view of the apparatus 10 with the movable member 18 in a second position 42. The movable member 18 is preferably slidable along the bar 12 as shown in FIGS. 2-3. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the second extension 28 of the movable member 18 is angled at an angle θ toward the proximal end 14 of the bar. Angle θ preferably ranges from about 65 degrees to about 85 degrees and more preferably ranges from about 77 degrees to about 83 degrees. In a related embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the movable member 18 is not angled; rather, a movable member 19 is provided that is substantially orthogonal to the bar 12.

FIG. 4B shows a close-up view of the proximal end 14 of the bar 12 including the first extension 26 with the groove 30. The first extension 26 is preferably oriented substantially perpendicular to the bar 12 as shown in FIG. 4. Similarly, the second extension 28 is also preferably oriented substantially perpendicular to the bar 12 as shown in FIGS. 2-3. Additionally, the first extension 26 and the second extension 28 are preferably oriented approximately 180 degrees from each other. FIG. 5 shows a view of the first side 36 of apparatus 10 in which a string has been attached to the groove 30 of the first extension 26 and has been wound through the groove 32 located along the second extension 28.

FIG. 6 shows an end view of the distal end 16 of the bar 12. The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 includes the bar 12 having a rectangular cross section. However, in other embodiments, the cross section of the bar 12 may be another polygon such as, for example, a square, a hexagon, or an octagon. The cross section of the bar 12 may also be in the shape of a circle, an oval, or a combination of curved and straight edges.

FIG. 7 shows a close up view of the distal end 16 of the bar 12 along the second side 40 of the apparatus 10. FIG. 7 reveals obstruction 34. The obstruction 34 shown in the embodiment in FIG. 7 was formed by creating an indentation 44 along the second side 40 of the apparatus 10, thereby slightly raising a periphery 46 around the indentation 44, whereby the raised periphery 46 acts as the obstruction 34. In other embodiments, obstruction 34 may include, for example, a projection attached at the distal end 16 of the bar 12. In yet another embodiment, the obstruction 34 may be built into the structure of the bar 12 such that the thickness of the bar 12 increases toward the distal end 16, thereby preventing the movable member 18 from falling off of the bar 12.

FIG. 8 shows the apparatus 10 along a first substructure 48 such that the second side 40 of the apparatus 10 is facing a person viewing the figure. The movable member 18 has been moved toward the proximal end 14 of the bar 12 such that both the second portion 24 of the movable member 18 and the second extension 28 of the end member 20 substantially are in contact with and straddle the first substructure 48. A string 50 has been attached to the groove 30 along the first extension 26 and the string 50 has been placed through groove 32 along the second extension 28 such that the string 50 appears to exit the page toward a person viewing the figure. By pulling the string 50 in a direction normal to the page, the proximal end 14 of the bar 12 slightly rotates in the direction of the pulled string 50, locking the apparatus 10 along the first substructure 48. The string 50 can then be tied off or attached to another device so that the string 50 may be used to align other substructures as such substructures are added next to the first substructure 48. FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the apparatus 10 after the string 50 has been pulled and the apparatus 10 has been locked into position.

The apparatus 10 and other related embodiments may be used to help align substructures such as brick, stone, cement block, wood, and virtually any type of building substructure that requires proper alignment with other substructures. For example, if a brick wall is being constructed, the apparatus 10 may be placed on a brick that has already been attached to the structure, and a string can be attached to the apparatus and vectored in such a way as to help align and lay the remaining bricks in a particular row to form the wall. The apparatus 10 and other related embodiments may also be used, for example, at the top of a vertical beam of wood that has been attached to a structure. A string can be attached to the apparatus 10 and vectored in such a way as to help align the attachment of other beams of wood to the structure. The term “string” as used in concert with the apparatus 10 is defined broadly herein and includes, but is not limited to, cord, elongate fibers, wire, twine, thread, tape, or any similar material, natural or synthetic.

The length of the bar 12 preferably ranges from about 2 centimeters to about 40 centimeters, and more preferably ranges from about 20 centimeters to about 25 centimeters. However, depending on the size of the substructure and/or the available work space around a structure, the desired bar 12 length may vary considerably. For example, in some situations, it may desirable for the bar 12 to be considerably shorter if an immovable object is close or adjacent to a substructure that the apparatus is to be attached to. In the example shown in FIG. 11, if the bar 12 were to extend beyond the width of a substructure 52 (shown as a common brick with multiple apertures 54), it would collide with a wall 56, thereby preventing the second extension 28 from engaging substantially adjacent to the substructure 52. FIG. 11 also demonstrates how the apparatus 10 may be attached along various features of a substructure such as the apertures 54.

The invention described herein also includes a method for aligning substructures to facilitate the construction of a structure using alignment apparatus 10 or a related embodiment of apparatus 10. One embodiment of such method includes a step of placing the alignment apparatus on a substructure such that the second portion 24 of the movable member 18 and the second extension 28 of the end member 20 are located on opposing surfaces of the substructure (i.e., they straddle the substructure or a portion of the substructure). The method also includes a step of wrapping a string around the first extension 26 of the end member 20 such that the string is inserted into the groove 30 located along the first extension 26. The method further includes a step of wrapping the string under the bar 12 along the groove 32 in the second extension 28. The method also includes a step of pulling the remaining string from the groove 32 in the second extension 28 under the bar 12 in order to set a desired alignment guideline of string along an unfinished structure. In a related embodiment, the method further includes the step of moving the movable member 18 closer to the proximal end 14 of the apparatus 10 until both the second portion 24 of the movable member 18 and the second extension 28 of the end member 20 are in contact with the substructure.

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled. 

1. An apparatus for aligning substructures to facilitate the construction of a structure, the apparatus comprising an elongate bar including a proximal end and a distal end; a movable member including a first portion and a second portion, the movable member being movable along the bar between the proximal end and the distal end of the bar; an end member adjacent the bar, the end member including a first extension and a second extension, the first extension including a groove for attaching a string to the apparatus, the second extension including a groove for positioning a string substantially adjacent to any substructure that the apparatus may be placed on, the second extension being located substantially opposite the second portion of the movable member; and an obstruction located near the distal end of the bar for preventing the movable member from moving off of the bar.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the movable member is angled toward the proximal end of the apparatus.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional structure of the bar comprises a polygonal shape.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cross-sectional structure of the bar comprises a rectangular shape.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the length of the bar ranges from about 5 centimeters to about 40 centimeters.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the length of the bar ranges from about 20 centimeters to about 25 centimeters.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first extension is oriented substantially orthogonal to the bar, wherein the second extension is oriented substantially orthogonal to the bar, and wherein the first extension and the second extension are oriented approximately 180 degrees apart from each other along the proximal end of the bar.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable member is movable by sliding motion along the bar.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first extension includes a plurality of grooves for attaching a string to the apparatus.
 10. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second portion of the movable member is oriented at an angle ranging from about 65 degrees to about 85 degrees relative to the bar in the direction facing the proximal end of the bar.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is made from a material consisting essentially of metal.
 12. An apparatus for aligning substructures to facilitate the construction of a structure, the apparatus comprising an elongate bar including a proximal end and a distal end wherein the cross-sectional structure of the bar includes a polygonal shape; a movable member including a first portion and a second portion, the movable member being movable along the bar between the proximal end and the distal end of the bar wherein the movable member is movable by sliding motion along the bar; an end member adjacent the bar, the end member including a first extension and a second extension, the first extension including a groove for attaching a string to the apparatus, the second extension including a groove for positioning a string substantially adjacent to any substructure that the apparatus may be placed on, the second extension being located substantially opposite the second portion of the movable member; and an obstruction located near the distal end of the bar for preventing the movable member from moving off of the bar.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second portion of the movable member is angled toward the proximal end of the apparatus.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the cross-sectional structure of the bar comprises a rectangular shape.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the length of the bar ranges from about 5 centimeters to about 40 centimeters.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the length of the bar ranges from about 20 centimeters to about 25 centimeters.
 17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the second portion of the movable member is oriented at an angle ranging from about 65 degrees to about 85 degrees relative to the bar in the direction facing the proximal end of the bar.
 18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the apparatus is made from a material consisting essentially of metal.
 19. A method for aligning substructures to facilitate the construction of a structure using a alignment apparatus, the alignment apparatus including an elongate bar including a proximal end and a distal end; a movable member including a first portion and a second portion, the movable member being movable along the bar between the proximal end and the distal end of the bar; an end member adjacent the bar, the end member including a first extension and a second extension, the first extension including a groove for attaching a string to the apparatus, the second extension including a groove for positioning a string substantially adjacent to any substructure that the apparatus may be placed on, the second extension being located substantially opposite the second portion of the movable member; and an obstruction located near the distal end of the bar for preventing the movable member from moving off of the bar, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing the alignment apparatus on a substructure such that the second portion of the movable member and the second extension of the end member are located on opposite sides of the substructure; (b) wrapping a string around the first extension of the end member such that the string is inserted into the groove located along the first extension; (c) wrapping the string under the bar along the groove in the second extension; and (d) pulling the remaining string from the groove in the second extension under the bar in order to set a desired alignment guideline along an unfinished structure.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of placing the alignment apparatus on a substructure such that the second portion of the movable member and the second extension of the end member are located on opposite sides of the substructure further comprises moving the movable member closer to the proximal end of the alignment apparatus until both the second portion of the movable member and the second extension of the end member are in contact with the sub-structure. 